The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-08

face, u W marked with sorrow and suffering
all his love for her returns, and pressing his
lips to her forehead, he mnimurs, brJke'y,
tenderly, "mt poor, poor gill J
Presently she recov' rs consciousness; and
shrinking from him, buiies her face once
more in the pillows of the sofa.
| Quietly gaining possession of her hand. he
says, tendery, dearest Mary louk up. My
heart is full oi love for you Let us forget
the past"
''It is impossible !" she says bitterly. Then
anxiously aud eagerly, she cries. You have
metz Where is hep On, what do l see in
your facrP 1t cannot be that you have kill.
ed him ?'
at is even so ~ Chetwode replies.
"0h, miserable wretch that | am - she
cries.wildly. "Fnst ruin myself, and now
you, through me, have become an assass-
inr'
MARY" Chetwode says firmly, "calm
| yourself. Can't yO realize that while he
lived there could he no hope for you? had
| looked fU ward to the slavng OF him siuce
the day he stole you from me. 1t is but right
that he should answer for his sin in that
other world, as he could not atone for it in
this
You have broken my heart ?" she says,
sUbbing bitterly.
'Oniy to save your soul, Mary. Think no
more of one so utterly base deg AIDED, and
unworthy ~
Days aud weeks pass, during which time
Mary's life lies in the balance. Fever eu-
suing from her overwrought BRAN, brings
her to deaths dnor; but with tender care and
careful nursing she rallies, and then, when
the doctors permit (Lord Chetwode making
the necessary arrangementS), they start fol-
Biarriiz, where Lady Mary wishes to seclude
herself for some time. She looks even more
lovely in her misery.
But can lovely women hide forever ?
No; aud a pity indeed could 1t be so.
DEAREST JOHN 81 hope you do not at
tribute my long silence to folgetfuness-iu
thai you would be very wrong. had no.
thing to tell you, my lie being very much
poor in this parish and attending church |
do literally nothing. But even in this, John
dear, have been siugula"ly unfortunate.
Hugh Maberly (our rect1r) has chosen to
fall in love with your poor Mary, and only
yesterday asked me TO be his wife. How
could dare link my wreiched life with Ii S
pure and perfect one and he happyP And
yet if lnse HIM lose a that would make
existence endurable Give me your advice.
He loves me with all his heart Am | t.
break it p"
"MY DEAR MARY IL have ia,t read yuur
welcome letter, W til mingled feeling of sur.
prise and pleasure. If this man loves you as
You say, 20 to him and confess ALL
"Your loving brother,
JonE."
When Mary receives this she is anxious.
miserable, aud grateful. She kisses her let
ter, then c,ies over IT, hen remembering how
soon she will have to make her hurrd con.
fessiun, She tiluGs herself upon her BID aLd
gives way to passionate weeping for some
time.
She has only one hour to recover herself
before Hugh Mabrrly comes lur his answer.
She goes down to the drawing room, and
seats herself on low chair by the fire, al d
remains wrapt in thought, till Thompson, the
f"otmau, auuuuuceS, "Mr. Maberly."
When Mary sees hiul, she advances to meet
him, looking SO white and nervous that Hugh
taking both her willing hands, asks anxious.
ly, 'are you ?"
"a little," Mary gasps. 81 shall be bet.
ter soon. | have beeu thinking about sad
story Of women knew, and it has over.
come me-that is all, " and then. fearing he
may say the words she knows must come
sooner or later, she plunges at once in to hel
confession.
You have heard, no-doubt that pitablt
story of Lady Mary Cnetwude p
II have. always pitied her."
"Did you2 Her sin was very great"
sit was. Therefore the more to be lament
ed"
"She was a wretched woman"
why Mary, thought you were more
charitable. Could You not be sorry for one
who must have suffered sa much ?"
81 could, am have been sorry for her
all my life ~ cries Mary passlonately.
"There, that is what would have expee 4
ed from you?" Hugh exclaims, rising anC
taking both her hauds in his.
Expect nothing from me ~ she cries, ex
citedly. a am one black sheep in YOU
flock Oh, Hugh forgive me l am tha,
woman ~
There is NJ answer for moment, Hugh
only clasps her hands the tighter aud at las
he speaks,
"My love, have known this ever since W,
first met. stretched ont my hands to hclr
you aud they have guided you straight into
my heart, Maly-a heart that shall adore
you while 1t beats, aud has ever beaten fol
any other. Can you forgive my not telliul
of this before, and come to me, to bless my
life by being my tue and faithful wifc?'
tnb IIuuI my .pbn4.. l,c =,